Project "Policy and Legal Advice Centre (PLAC) for Montenegro.” presented successfully

"The coordination of the accession process, the transposition of EU legal acquis, and the implementation of EU policies are present and visible within the administrative structure, but not to the extent required by the current phase of the negotiation process. It is necessary to further build the capacities of line ministries and state institutions, including the creation of models to motivate the administration staff to remain in the public service long enough to ensure a permanent base of professionals engage in these important tasks," said Montenegro's Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Predrag Zenović, while opening the conference titled "Challenges in the process of harmonisation of legislation with the EU acquis."

Copyright: Evropska kuća

At the conference, which was organised by the Ministry of European Affairs, the EU funded project "Policy and Legal Advice Centre (PLAC) for Montenegro." was presented. Additionally, a panel discussion dedicated to the key challenges Montenegro faces in harmonising the legislation with EU legal standards was held within the framework of the conference as well.

Deputy Head of the Political Affairs, Press, and Information Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Laura Zampetti, stated that transposing the volume of EU legislation into the Montenegrin legal system is in and of itself a challenge, considering that it is estimated to encompass around 100,000 different documents, including regulations, directives, implementing provisions, and more.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

She said that the PLAC project will help optimise the process and clarify roles and sequences.

"This is a complex and resource-intensive process which Montenegro must go through to close the remaining chapters. The EU provides various types of technical assistance in different policy areas. Through the PLAC project, assistance will be provided more horizontally to follow users in various activities related to the enlargement process, whether it be drafting laws aligned with the EU legal acquis, assessing the new Acquis, or providing expert translations," Zampetti explained.

"The Policy and Legal Advice Centre (PLAC) for Montenegro project will proceed in two main directions – one is to provide assistance in harmonising the legislation with the EU legal acquis and the other to support the negotiation structure for the effective conduct of negotiations," emphasised project team leader Tatjana Tomić.

She said that the project also includes improving the system of expert revision of translations of the EU legal acquis, as well as assistance in the planning and timely preparation of the national version of the relevant Acquis.

The event was organised by the Ministry of European Affairs with the support of the PLAC project, which aims to empower the Montenegrin administration to smoothly integrate into the EU, with an emphasis on a faster and more efficient pace in the negotiation process.